Foreign Companies have taken a sudden interest in Kampuchea's ageing, state-owned rubber plantations. Kampuchean officials are delighted at this development. "Today there is anarchy in the transport of the rubber," says Chhun Sareth, undersecretary of state in the ministry of agriculture. "They have to replant it or it will be like the teak plantations," he feels.

Three foreign companies are competing for an investment in the plantations. Terre Rouge Consultants, affiliated to Group Rivaud of France, have offered to take over the Chop plantation in Kampong Chant in central Kampuchea. Belgium-based Societe Investment Agriculture Tropicale is also wooing the Kampuchean government and the third competitor is a joint venture called Cambodia/Aldec. North Korea is also pressing ahead despite an extravagant estimate of at least us $130 million to replant trees and upgrade factories.